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Drinks: Bar Ilegal, Austin's New Mezcal-Only Watering Hole, Now Open
Housed in the tiny stone building in back of Clive, Bar Ilegal officially opened Sept. 22 and serves only mezcal, which is an agave-based spirit that's a close cousin of tequila. Mezcal may be "new" around these parts, but this strong, smokey liquor originated in Mexico hundreds of years ago, and mezcalarias -- bars dedicated solely to mezcal -- are currently all the rage in Mexico City.
As of now, Bar Ilegal is only serving one brand of mezcal, fittingly from Ilegal Mezcal, a small-batch distillery in Oaxaca that produces its juice the old-fashioned way -- "using the heart of the espadin agave plant that is baked underground over volcanic rock, then crushed by a traditional millstone drawn by a horse."
Traditionally, mezcal is meant to be sipped straight with no mixers, and that's how Bar Ilegal is currently serving it, though they will likely add a variety of cocktails and infusions in the future. For now, options include Joven, Reposado, and Añejo mezcals and Victoria Beer, one of Mexico's oldest cervezas.
Hours at Bar Ilegal will be a bit irregular, so check their Twitter feed to find out when you'll be able to grab one of the few seats in the tiny, 20-person cantina located at 609 Davis Street.
